David

♂ Boy

Pronounced DAY-vid /ˈdeɪ.vɪd/High

Meaning: Beloved; darling; dear oneHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Hebrew for 'beloved,' David is the great warrior-king and psalmist of the Hebrew Bible. One of the most enduring names in all of history, never absent from the U.S. top 25.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningBeloved; darling; dear one

Peak year1955

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,611,329

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

David comes from the Hebrew Dawid (דָּוִד), likely derived from dwd meaning 'beloved' or 'darling.' In the Hebrew Bible, David is the shepherd boy who defeated Goliath, eventually became king of Israel, unified the kingdom, and made Jerusalem his capital. He is revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The name was used throughout the medieval period, especially in Wales (patron saint David, c. 500–589 AD) and Scotland. In the United States it consistently ranked in the top five from the 1930s through the 1980s. It has never left the top 25 U.S. boys' names and remains a perennial choice.

Did you know? King David (c. 1000–970 BC) is credited with composing many of the 150 Psalms of the Bible. He was also the ancestor of Jesus according to the Gospels, making his name particularly sacred in both Jewish and Christian tradition.

Variations

DawidDavideDafyddTaavid

Nicknames

DaveDavyDav

Famous Bearers

★King David (c. 1040–970 BC)
Second king of Israel, slayer of Goliath, and attributed author of many Psalms.
★David Bowie (1947–2016)
British rock musician and cultural icon.
★Michelangelo's David (1501–1504)
Iconic Renaissance marble sculpture depicting the biblical David, housed in Florence.

If you like David…

Michael— shares the mid-20th century top-5 dominance in the U.S.

James— equally eternal never-top-25 English/biblical classic

Daniel— shares the prophet heritage and sustained chart presence

John— fellow eternal top-25 Hebrew name with royal associations

Samuel— another Old Testament name with the same warm staying power

Frequently Asked

What does the name David mean?

David comes from the Hebrew Dawid, meaning 'beloved' or 'darling,' borne by the shepherd-warrior who became king of Israel.

How do you pronounce David?

David is said DAY-vid /ˈdeɪ.vɪd/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is David a boy or girl name?

David is used almost exclusively as a boy's name; the feminine equivalents are Davina and Davida.

How popular is David?

David has never left the U.S. top 25 boys' names since SSA records began in 1880, and ranked in the top five from the 1930s to the 1980s.